On paper, Ratan Tata is everything young India would despise. Born with a silver spoon, he joined the family business (besties with the British) and kept getting chances despite multiple initial failures. But today, as the great man passed, we saw unanimous mourning from Indians across generations. What made Mr Tata so admired by a country that loves to hate its capitalists?
When I was growing up in the 1990s, the staple Indian rich man was called “Tata-Birla”, referring to the grandeur of India’s centuries-old business houses. Today, the TATA group calls itself a “salt to software conglomerate” that is at the forefront of India’s growth story. It’s true. Despite being overtaken in recent decades by Ambanis and Adanis, the TATA brand has retained its own in terms of glory and hope. And the biggest reason for this is Ratan Tata. Under the unassuming appearance, there lurked a man who was fiercely passionate about his business, his people, and of course, his country.
Indians loved him for many reasons. He was a successful businessman who claimed his business served India rather than himself. His motivations were “charity” and not “profit”. His employees were “family” rather than an army of bots being worked to the ground to increase his net worth. The TATA group, after all, was value-driven, rather than an entity fixated on succeeding by hook or by crook. Don’t believe me? Check your WhatsApp! They are never wrong there.
On a serious note, Indians loved Mr. Tata because he didn’t flaunt his wealth and pretended to not care about profits. He didn’t make Lego-like superstructures, dance in front of the nation when his IPL team won or get named in opportunistic Western reports that tarnished his group’s reputation. Much like the British, Indians HATE those who show off their wealth. Indians have been poor for so long, that some consider wealth to not necessarily be a good thing.
Mr. Tata’s reputation was built long before Reliance Jio handed every poor Indian free 4G internet before clean water. Motivational quotes from Lincoln to Aristotle were often attributed to him in email forwards even back in the mid-2000s. His sophisticated demeanour and genuinely world-class management led to him being perceived as a secure old-money stalwart who was helping India grow.
Standing outside the Taj while it was under assault from Pakistani terrorists cemented his legendary status. In a world where employees loathe to even come to the office, Taj employees were giving up their lives trying to protect their guests. Only a once in a once-in-a-generation leader can foster such a spirit.
It helped him immensely when his image needed him the most. The Radia tapes and the Cyrus Mistry coups were two major events that showed vulnerabilities in an otherwise unblemished brand. I am not arguing the great man’s image was carefully cultivated over the years. I am saying, that even if it was, it’s fine. He was a great man. A little PR push doesn’t hurt anyone.
Oh and one more thing. Ratan Tata never publicly meddled in politics. Except of course, when politics meddled with him like in Singur, Bengal. That fateful 2008 tussle was incredible because everybody except the actual product lost. Mamata Didi won Bengal, Modi got the image of being a pro-business politician, and Ratan Tata got public sympathy and an arguably better deal in Gujarat. Only the Nano flopped!
Ratan Tata assured Indians that we can grow without the unabashed rapacious capitalism that propelled the USA in the 20th and China in the 21st century. It’s a pipe dream for the deluded, but people love dreams. Especially Indians who love their world in black and white. In fact, a lesser-known fact – Ratan Tata criticized Antilla when it was first built.
“It makes me wonder why someone would do that. That’s what revolutions are made of.”
Maybe Mr. Tata was loved because he was one of us. Just born with a silver spoon, a steely resolve, and a golden heart.
Farewell Sir. You were truly a Ratan.
Pol Ke Bol! 